Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos

Easy Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos are creamy, sweet, spicy, and healthier than the Bonefish grill classic. You will have this 30 minute meal on repeat!

Looking for another twist on Taco Tuesday? These shrimp tacos and fish tacos recipe are fantastic.

What Is Bang Bang Shrimp?

Bang bang shrimp is a popular menu item at Bonefish Grill that we use to make our bang bang shrimp tacos recipe with. Large plump shrimp are fried until extra crispy, coated in a spicy sauce, served on flour tortillas, and topped with your favorite toppings.

My sweet and spicy bang bang sauce is made with mayo, yogurt, Thai sweet chili sauce, sriracha, vinegar, and salt. Super easy and you can make it as mild or spicy as you like.

My family rated these bang bang shrimp tacos one of the best shrimp recipes I ever made!

Ingredients for Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos

All you need is a handful of simple ingredients for this bang bang shrimp tacos recipe. Of course tacos are always customizable, so I always start with the basics.

• Raw shrimp: I use 21-35 count per pound large shrimp. You can use fresh shrimp or frozen shrimp that has been thawed. Just be sure shrimps are peeled, deveined and tails removed. I always forget about the tails!
• Cornstarch: For extra crispy bang bang shrimp.
• Yogurt and Mayo: Greek yogurt and a little bit of mayonnaise makes the bang bang sauce healthier while still having the classic tangy taste.
• Thai sweet chili sauce and sriracha: For sweet and spicy flavor. Store bought sweet chili sauce saves a lot of time or you can make sweet chili sauce at home.
• Salt and white vinegar: Finishes the bang bang sauce.
• Oil: For frying the shrimp. I prefer to use high smoke point avocado oil. Light olive oil or grapeseed oil will work as well.
• Tortillas: We like small corn tortillas but you can use flour tortillas as well.
• Vegetables: Green onion, red cabbage, and lettuce.
• Toppings: Our go-to is guacamole, pico de gallo, and fresh lime juice.

How to Make Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos

Here are the easy steps it takes to make bang bang shrimp tacos. Full recipe card is below.

• Make the bang bang sauce: Add mayo, yogurt, Thai sweet chili sauce, sriracha, white vinegar, and salt to a large bowl, whisk and set aside.
• Prep: Use paper towel to pat dry shrimp. Preheat a large non-stick skillet on medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of oil.
• Sauté shrimp: In a separate large bowl, add cornstarch, toss in shrimp and coat. Shake off the excess cornstarch and add shrimp to the hot skillet. Work in batches so shrimp cooks in a single layer and pan fry shrimp for about 3-4 minutes per side until pink and golden brown. Then transfer them onto a paper towel-lined plate to soak up extra fat.
• Cover with bang bang sauce: Once all your shrimp is cooked, add them to the bowl with the sauce and gently stir. Make sure every piece is coated.
• Assemble bang bang shrimp tacos: Add cabbage and lettuce on tortilla, place shrimp on top and add your favorite toppings.

Tips for Best Results

Here are my tips and tricks on how to get that restaurant taste at home with this bang bang shrimp tacos recipe.

• Use large shrimp: I used 21-25 per pound count shrimps. They shrink while cooking, fit nicely in the tortilla, and make a more filling dish.
• To peel and devein shrimp: It’s not as hard as you’d think, here is a quick tutorial how to peel and devein shrimp.
• Make sure shrimp is dry: Paper towel removes excess water and the shrimp will fry much better with more flavor and crispy texture.
• Drain excess fat: The shrimp will absorb some of the hot oil which makes the bang bang shrimp more greasy and adds more fat and calories.
• Adjust the bang bang sauce to taste: I made it lighter with Greek yogurt but you can make it with all yogurt or all mayonnaise and adjust any seasonings to taste.

What to Serve with Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos?

Bang bang shrimp tacos are highly versatile! You can enjoy this easy recipe every week and change it up a bit each time by adding toppings and sides. Here are some great ideas:

• Add coleslaw: Pick up a bag of store bought slaw mix and make my easy healthy coleslaw recipe. Use it as a topping or serve on the side.
• Spicy shrimp tacos: For more heat add diced jalapenos or drizzle with hot sauce.
• Other toppings: Add creamy diced avocado, sliced radishes, cilantro, Instant Pot refried beans, or crumbled cotija cheese on top and sour cream on a side.
• Salsa: We love fruit salsa like pineapple jalapeno salsa, mango salsa and peach salsa. Add it on top or on the side with tortilla chips.
• Make low carb: Shred some romaine lettuce or iceberg lettuce and make a taco bowl. Or replace tortillas with lettuce wraps and serve in double layers of Boston lettuce or romaine lettuce leaves.
• Sides: Serve with a side of jasmine rice, brown rice, quinoa, Thai cauliflower rice, Mexican street corn salad, or Instant Pot corn on the cob.

Making Ahead the Bang Bang Sauce

These bang bang shrimp tacos are super easy to make and ready in just 25 minutes, but you can pre make the sauce to save even more time!

Combine bang bang shrimp sauce ingredients up to 2 days in advance, store in an airtight container and refrigerate.

How to Store

Store: Keep cooked and coated bang bang shrimp separately from taco toppings in airtight containers. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Freeze: Do not freeze bang bang shrimp tacos toppings. Place leftover bang bang shrimp in an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months.

Reheat: Simply microwave for 1-2 minutes until warm. If frozen, thaw in the fridge overnight then reheat the same way.

FAQs

More Shrimp Recipes to Try

• Shrimp tostadas
• Shrimp ceviche
• Air fryer shrimp
• Shrimp egg roll in a bowl
• Easy shrimp spaghetti
• Grilled shrimp skewers
• Shrimp avocado salad
• Shrimp orzo salad

More Taco Recipes to Try

• Grilled fish tacos
• Carne asada tacos
• Chicken street tacos
• Ground chicken tacos